What infections cause brown mucus?

Brown Phlegm: What Causes It?

  • COPD.
  • Acute Bronchitis.
  • Bacterial Pneumonia.
  • Chronic Lung Disease.
  • Fungus Allergy.
  • Lung Abscess.
  • Quitting Smoking.

What does chest infection phlegm look like?

White/Clear: This is the normal colour of phlegm. phlegm may be brownish in colour. have an active chest infection. This means that a visit to your GP would be advisable as antibiotics and/or steroids may be needed.

What Colour Do you cough up with a chest infection?

a chesty cough – you may cough up green or yellow mucus. wheezing and shortness of breath. chest pain or discomfort. a high temperature.

Is coughing up brown mucus bad?

Brown phlegm can also be a warning sign because it signals prior bleeding. As the blood ages, it turns brown. If you notice brown phlegm, you should see your doctor. Black phlegm is cause for alarm—it likely signals a fungal infection, especially for people with compromised immune systems.

Why do I cough up brown mucus?

The color brown often means old blood. You may see this color after your phlegm appears red or pink. Brown phlegm is commonly caused by: Bacterial pneumonia:This form of pneumonia can produce phlegm that is green-brown or rust-colored.

How can you tell if phlegm is bacterial or viral?

Small amounts of white mucus may be coughed up if the bronchitis is viral. If the color of the mucus changes to green or yellow, it may be a sign that a bacterial infection has also set in. The cough is usually the last symptom to clear up and may last for weeks.

What are the symptoms of coughing up brown mucus?

When you are coughing up brown mucus, you may notice related symptoms, which may include: 1 Having a sore throat 2 Shortness of breath 3 A bleeding nose that is accompanied by the appearance of brown specks or spots in your mucus 4 Chest pain and coughing up brownish looking mucus, which may seem like darkish brown blood clots.

What are the symptoms of a chest infection?

The main symptoms are: a chesty cough – you may cough up green or yellow mucus. wheezing and shortness of breath. chest pain or discomfort. a high temperature (fever) of 38C or above.

What are the symptoms of coughing up phlegm?

The phlegm can be clear, pale yellow or yellow-greenish in colour. Other people may only occasionally cough up small amounts of phlegm, or none at all. Other symptoms may include: shortness of breath. wheezing. coughing up blood or bloodstained phlegm.

What does it mean when you have brown phlegm in your lungs?

Lung abscess: This is a cavity filled with pus inside your lungs. It’s usually surrounded by infected and inflamed tissue. Along with cough, night sweats, and loss of appetite, you will experience a cough that brings up brown or blood-streaked sputum. This phlegm also smells foul.